Tagline: He loves her. She loves him not.
The romantic comedy Just Friends stars Ryan Reynolds as a former high school geek turned trendy Los Angeles music executive. When he gets stranded in his New Jersey home town due to bad weather with a superstar singer he is trying to sign, he finds himself reunited with his high school crush and discovers she is his true love.
Just Friends is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Roger Kumble, written by Adam ‘Tex’ Davis and starring Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein and Christopher Marquette. The plot focuses on a formerly overweight high school nerd (Reynolds) who attempts to free himself from the friend zone after reconnecting with his lifelong crush and best friend (Smart) while visiting his hometown for Christmas.
The film revolves around humorous observation of strictly platonic relationships as “just friends” or “just as best friends.” It was shot in Regina and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The film was released on November 23, 2005 and grossed $32.6 million and $18.3 million in other territories for a total gross of $50.9 million.
About the Story
“The ‘friend zone’ is like the penalty box of dating, only you can never get out. Once a girl decides you’re her ‘friend,’ it’s game over. You’ve become a complete non-sexual entity in her eyes, like her brother, or a lamp.” – Chris Brander
Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) has it all — money, good looks and a flashy job as an LA music executive. But things weren’t always this way for him… Back in high school in New Jersey in the 1990’s, Chris was shy, overweight and the butt of the cool crowd’s jokes. The only bright spot in his life was his friendship with Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart) a super-popular cheerleader and the hottest girl in school.
For four years, these two best buds were inseparable, save for the occasional jock boyfriend of Jamie’s coming between them. But throughout high school, Chris was harboring a secret — he was hopelessly in love with his best friend, Jamie. On the night of their high school graduation, Chris finally works up his courage and makes his feelings known. In response, a surprised Jamie tells Chris that she loves him…like a brother. She proceeds to give him the “Just Friends” speech, the most painful words known to man. Enraged and humiliated, Chris declares himself no longer friends with Jamie and storms off.
Ten years later, Chris has reinvented himself as a smooth talking lady-killer, living large in Los Angeles. Chris’s boss, KC (Stephen Root), has just given him his most challenging job assignment yet — turning spoiled socialite, diva and magazine pin-up girl Samantha James (Anna Faris) into a pop-singing sensation. The well-known fact that Chris and Sam used to date, and that she still carries a torch for him, makes it all the more hellish. But what Chris doesn’t realize is that his nightmare is just beginning.
The less than talented Sam doesn’t feel she can “create” unless Chris whisks her off to Paris. En route, a plane malfunction causes them to make an unexpected pit-stop in New Jersey – the first time Chris has been back in 10 years. Chris takes the opportunity to drop in on his overly excitable mom (Julie Hagerty) and smart-aleck brother, Mike (Christopher Marquette).
However, Chris’ plans to only stay the night are detoured when he runs into Jamie Palamino working at the local bar. Suddenly faced with the chance to undo the past and “seal the deal” with the “just friends” girl of his dreams, Chris finds himself postponing Paris. This sets off a chain of events in which Chris tries to woo Jamie, all the while distracting the suspicious Samantha. Unbelievably, Chris is finding it more difficult to romance Jamie than it was 10 years ago.
The harder Chris tries, the deeper he finds himself entrenched in the ‘friend zone,’ the purgatory of dating where only platonic relationships flourish. When Dusty Dinkleman (Chris Klein), another ‘just friends’ guy from high school shows up, Chris’ fate seems doomed. Can one escape the clutches of the ‘friend zone?’ Is it possible to go from ‘just friend’ to boyfriend? Chris is about to find out the hard way…
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Just Friends (2005)
Directed by: Roger Kumble
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Amy Smart, Chris Klein, Christopher Marquette, Stephen Root, Julie Hagerty, Fred Ewanuick, Amy Matysio, Wendy Anderson, Giacomo Beltrami
Screenplay by: Adam ‘Tex’ Davis
Production Design by: Robb Wilson King
Cinematography by: Anthony B. Richmond
Film Editing by: Jeff Freeman
Costume Design by: Alexandra Welker
Set Decoration by: Susan Emshwiller, Christina Kuhnigk
Music by: Jeff Cardoni
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content including some dialogue.
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
Release Date: November 23, 2005
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